Clinton Walker

My name is Clinton Walker. Some may also know me as Nkechi, which means “Loyal.” I am 34. I’m from Philadelphia and have been in prison for 17 years. I am a Juvenile Lifer, which is one who is serving a Life Sentence given to them for a crime they were directly involved in when under the age of 18. I’m a writer, a reader, and a self-proclaimed singer, though many of the people who has heard my vocals would strongly oppose the statement of me being a singer, for reasons I can’t quite put my finger on.

I’ve become a strong man in prison and strength can be viewed in many ways but in this instance, I refer to my mental strength and character. The horrors, hardships, assaults and insults that’s molded in prison and its system, has forced me to focus and cultivate the best of me in such a way as to stay human, versus becoming a bitter shell of what human is. Albeit, I have little academic achievements, yet I take great pride in my achievements of disallowing the diseases of prison to become chronic ones.

Clinton Walker

“It would be good if members of the public were to ask themselves if they are the same person that they once were 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. If not, then I would ask why they expect anything less from men and women in the system. I believe with the combined ingredients of a real sense of hope – which is a real chance at freedom from what has become a re-occurring nightmare for many of us ­– and a clear focus/practice on rehabilitation, rather than retribution, the so-called “worst of the worst” would be the top prospects to be re-integrated into society.”

Clinton’s Interviews

Clinton Walker on Strength, Social Awareness, and Trying to Heal

6/5/14 - "I believe anyone that survives the obstacles of confinement without compromising who they are is strong in nature because the mechanics of prison are designed to break down, tear apart, and demoralize the strong-willed."

Clinton Walker on Writing, Maturity, and Ending the Silence

7/22/14 - "My writing is meaningful because it’s an outlet for me to channel my thoughts by putting my words on paper. It can be looked at as a form of therapy or self medication. It’s not a cure to my aches and pains but it does allow me a degree of relief."

Clinton Walker on the Failure of the Punitive Model of Justice

Featured Writings

Clinton Nkechi Walker “Statement For the Launch of CADBI”

Statement for the Launch of the Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration – June 6, 2015 By Clinton Nkechi Walker One of the ways of how I measure humanity is by the level of compassion society and its infrastructure has for its riffraff or for those victims of society’s evils such as poverty, mental illnesses,…